Marrying the Secret Billionaire

Reception blues

Prim’s POV:

If it was up to me, I’d rather go home and change and go see how Aspen is doing in the hospital. But I don’t call the shots today. “Hell, now I understand what all those nice guys turned into bad guys in movies feel when they say that it’s nothing personal, they’re just doing it for the money.”

That’s exactly how I feel now…

It is obvious that I am scared because I was not ready for this. I felt like I was just walking on the sidewalk and someone dragged me into a white van and shoved me in a white dress and told me ‘Hey, your life’s going to change today. Buckle up and good luck’.

My smile drops as cold terror run through my veins with that single thought. It’s what happened, and it’s still happening. As they say, it is what it is. And I step away from my new husband unsurely. Fear clinging as my brain connects with the fact that after the reception, we’d be alone.

For honeymoon.

To newlyweds, this is the pinnacle of the day. Ah, to be able to get off their itchy clothes and profess their love and affection through physical connection. Where the plans for your future together begin. To have children or not? To wait until you are both ready or not. Stuff like that, topics that were never discussed while you were dating because it's a taboo, so you wait until your honeymoon to talk about it.

Then, there's me.

And Archie too.

I am honestly surprised that for someone as good-looking as he, he's still single and no crazy ex-girlfriend went to the church and object the wedding when the Preacher asked for it. It would have gone better for me. Unfortunately, he doesn't have loose ends. Nor do I. So the wedding went on as usual.

Going back to honeymoon. I realize that I did not elaborate on that part. I am not a virgin to fear the act itself, I have Aspen, duh. And Eric and I have done it a lot of times, yet he chose my sister because she’s better in bed. I mean, what do men expect from us? Do acrobats to please them sexually? He could dream on.

The inner me is so desperate to protect myself from the man I married. He looked like he could inflict serious damage on me physically and pangs of hot waves started to form in between my thighs thinking about how those arms could carry me to bed.

“Hey, get back on track. Focus on smiling at the guests. Okay?” I told myself in my head to give me clarity. “You can worry about those arms later. Focus on the moment.”

We are at the reception venue now, and it’s a full contrast to the small church where we married. Will and Nora went all out on the restaurant. I thought it was going to be intimate. When I say intimate----there are limited guests but, judging by the ambiance of the place, I immediately knew what my parents were playing at.

They anticipated that Archie's family would show up. I heard him sigh when we arrived at the venue and had to take our position at the designated bride and groom table out front where everyone could see us.

"What was that for?" I asked and instantly regretted it. "Sorry..."

"Why are you sorry, Prim?" He pulled a chair out for me.

"I shouldn't have asked," great, I made myself look stupid, thank you to my fat mouth. I took the seat he offered." Thanks."

Archie shrugged, "you are my wife now, you can ask."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it's my prerogative if I want to answer or not. The same goes for you." Archie had no flair for small talk. He's very upfront, and it is yet to be decided if I like that or not.

"Oh." I sighed in relief as other guests from the church poured in. Faking a smile still. The show is still on.

It was his turn to be curious. "What was that for?"

"You said the same goes for me. I choose to use that privilege now."

He nods in amusement but says nothing. Unlike me, he prefers to show his true colors. He sports his smirk and does not even bother to fake a smile. Of course, he doesn't have family and friends on his side, and he doesn't have to please my side of the family given the fact that he knows how this marriage came to realize.

“I don’t want to be here,” I whispered, as though ashamed to say it out loud, and he sighed heavily. "Just putting it out there."

“I know you don’t.”

We both feel each other's vibe for a long moment, and he again reaches out to me, this time to brush a strand of my hair from my face, and my body explodes in tiny shivers and trembles at his touch. I’m falling to pieces and should get away from him. I need time to think and let this all sink in at a distance. He’s too potent when he’s close. He makes it hard to see things clearly, and all this could be another stint for the photo ops his family requires.

“Don't worry, you will be free to leave as soon as I get what I want.” He utters it as softly as my heart beats wildly off my chest. "I only agreed to marry because my father wants grandchildren. I see you have one already. That means you can make babies."

"F*ck you."

"F*ck you too," Archie continues to act sweet as a group of people I don't know walks in. A senior man who has this air of authority, followed by two more men dressed impeccably in suits and a young woman, maybe in her teens. They all have one thing in common----they scream money.

I realize who they are and why he acted that way towards me. Archie's family. This man runs his own show too! I guess he's as surprised as I am to see them.

So many questions run in my head, so many things I want him to tell me, to answer, to clear up my confusion and doubts, but all I do is sit and stare at him helplessly as his family spots us. Behind them were a whole armada of men who worked for their security. I saw Nora and Will's eyes turn as wide as saucers. They want this.

Silence grows noticeably before he finally clears his throat. Archie's back was turned from where they were coming,

“They're here, right?" Archie cuts to the point, and I sigh heavily. His question is simple yet loaded, and my head is a mess. I nod.

“Continue what you are doing, it's good for the photos, you are very beautiful.” He points out dryly, lightening the heavy mood and thinning out the air a little. It breaks the tension, getting an instant frown from me, and he gently prods my cheek affectionately. This strange new vibe between us has me all out of whack.

"I hate you. I hope you drown in your champagne."

“You know what this means...” He smiles at me softly. Not a full-blown charm your pants off, but an honest, slightly amused look. Resembling the one he gave me before we were officiated Mr. and Mrs. Wright.

That seems like a lifetime ago now.

“My family is here. And your parents are dying to meet them. I wonder why." Archie asks me, feigning innocence. He's an excellent actor, he already knows. "They will want to meet you."

I don’t know how to feel or what to think. This was not exactly something I foresaw, and now I don’t know what it is he wants from me. My voice is shaky, and I haven't even said anything to them. My body is trembling with nerves, and I feel like I’m standing on a cliff about to leap off.

Godric Rothschild hugged me like he knows me. "Welcome to the family, Primrose."